Desk-ruler



(No Model.)

J. D. BARBIE. DESK RULEB No. 591,804. Patented Oct. 19, 1897.

IQA/M 2 xcnms Finns co. PHOYD-LITN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. BARBIE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA DES K-RU LER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591 ,804, dated October19, 1897.

Application filedNovember 23,1896. Serial No. 613,053. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern-- Be it known that I, JOHN D. BARBIE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles, State of Oalifornia,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Desk-Rulers, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of thisdescription.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements indesk-rulers; and my invention consists in features of noveltyhereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Figure I represents a side elevation of a ruler, showing the usualinch-scale, my improved pencil-holder, and other useful features. Fig.II is an edge view. Fig. III is a section taken on line III III, Fig.VII. Fig. IV is an end view. Fig. V is a transverse section taken online V V, Fig. I. Fig. V1 is atransverse section taken on line VI VI,Fig. VIII. Fig. VII represents a side elevation of the pencil-sharpeningknife. Fig. VIII is a side elevation of the ruler, showing the oppositeside to that shown in Fig. I. Fig. IX is a detail sectional view showingmanner of connecting rubber strip or tubing to the ruler.

Referring .to the drawings, 1 represents the body of the ruler havingthe usual scale 2, with a metal-facing strip 3, and having a concavegroove 4 formed in its thicker edge. The groove 4. may be inlaid withemery or other wearing material, as shown at 5, for giving the finishingtouches in pointing a pencil.

6 represents a slot out in the side of the ruler and running in adiagonal direction with the length of the ruler.

7 represents a pencil-sharpening knife having a sharp edge 8 forsharpening pencils. The upper end of the knife or the part that does thesharpening is made in concave form, as shown at 9, to agree with theconcave groove 4 in the ruler. The knife 7 is provided with a number ofserrations or teeth 10, said teeth pressing into the wood of the rulerwhen the knife has been forced sidewise into the slot 6. The knife 7 istriangular in form, but elongated, with the point of the triangleextending down to the lower end of the slot 6. By making the knife inthis shape, as shown in Fig. VII, I am enabled to form two knives out ofan oblong piece of metal, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. VII,and having this shape it is much easier to withdraw the knife from theslot 6 in case it is desired to resharpen the same.

11 represents a cup-shaped recess in the ruler which extends to theouter surface of the same, said recess serving to catch the waste fromthe pencil and allow it to discharge from the point of the knife. Inorder to prevent the ruler from slipping when placed on an object whenbeing used in drawing lines or for other purposes, I provide strips 12,of rubber or other elastic material, which I secure to the flat side ofthe ruler. The strips 12 may be square in form, as shown in Fig.VIII, orthey may be made in the form of rubber tubing or round rubber, as shownat 13 in Fig. IX. The strips may be secured to the ruler on its face bymeans of glue, or they may be set into a recess 14, as shown in Fig.III, or they may be secured in a round orifice 15, as shown in Fig. IX,or by any other suitable means.

16 represents an elastic or other suitable strip secured to the fiatsurface of the ruler by means of tacks 17 or their equivalent, saidelastic strip 16 having pockets 18 therein in which a pencil or pencilsmay be inserted.

20 represents a spirit-level secured in the side of the ruler, whichindicates whether the ruler is level or not in drawing horizon tallines, for instance, on a blackboard or other vertical surface, therubber strips assisting the operator in holding the ruler on the properline when it has been obtained by means of the level.

I claim as my invention- 1. A desk-ruler having one of its edges groovedparallel with and extending the full length of the ruler forming a guideand knife projecting into said groove and having a cutting edgeconforming to the shape of the groove for the purpose of sharpeningpencils, substantially as set forth. I v

2. In a desk-ruler the combination of the body of the ruler, a grooveformed in the edge of the ruler, a recess in the side of the ruler, atriangular pencil-sharpening knife secured in said recess, said knifehaving teeth or serrations which press into the wood of the ruler andassist in holding it in position, substantially as set forth.

3. A'desk-ruler having one of its edges formed with a groove parallelwith and ex- 5 tending the length of the ruler which groove is coatedwith emery, and a knife projecting into said groove, whereby said grooveis l adapted to sharpen pencils by combined cutting and grinding action.

JOHN D. BARBIE.

Witnesses:

J. V. KEMP, J. E. KNIGHT.

